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In today’s society, higher education is largely marketed for its ability to better prepare individuals for the real world and securing a career, but rarely is it marketed for aiding individuals in their ability to pursue a good life. Studying the humanities allows us to dive into the depths of what it means to be human, and in turn, take part in the ongoing dialogue of what it means to live a good life.​The humanities offer enlightenment on what constitutes the good and exemplifies the importance of virtuous characteristics, such as altruism, charity, civility, compassion, and generosity. The various lessons we can learn from the humanities transfer into the flourishing of individuals and society. Here are some examples:

Studying great literature helps us appreciate and enlarge our horizons on the human condition, while increasing our capacity for empathy.

Studying history provides us with a window into the past and allows us to understand human nature and society, allowing us to make wiser choices in the future.

Studying art challenges us to see reality through new perspectives, while introducing us to aesthetic values and providing a gateway to the good in the guise of the beautiful.

Studying philosophy forces us to confront the most basic intellectual questions: What can we know? What is human nature? What is of value?

Studying the humanities allows us to see how rich a human life can be and what makes a life worthwhile.

Want to learn more about the Stone House Center for Public Humanities and how the humanities are helping our community? Click here to learn more.

Science has two important yields: increased understanding of the world within and around us, and solutions to specific problems. But even the most profound scientific knowledge won’t solve world problems such as hunger, poverty, environmental damage, or even dinosaur attacks if we fail to respect, understand, and engage cultural differences.

All this considered, here are just some of the reasons why students pursuing science careers should enhance their education with a strong foundation in the humanities:

The humanities prepare you to fulfill your civic and cultural responsibilities.

Studying the humanities allows you to become familiar with and use the creative ideas from great minds outside of science.

The state-of-the-art scientific knowledge and techniques you learn in college have a limited shelf life; mastering the humanities provides tools for extending it.

Humanities strengthens your ability to communicate and work with others.

You will gain knowledge of foreign languages and foreign cultures.

The walls that exist among disciplines has been lowered and students can move across disciplines more freely.

Students can benefit from advice on which courses to take.

Humanities help you understand the impact that science, technology, and medicine has had on society and understand the future scientific needs of society.

Interdisciplinary learning adds value to one’s degree.

Humanities teach you that the supposedly sharp dichotomies that separate science from humanities do not really exist.

With aid from the humanities, those in scientific disciplines are better able to consider society’s needs, enabling them to carefully consider where he or she chooses to work, what projects they undertake, and what role it will allow them to play within society.

Want to learn more about the Center for Public Humanities and how the humanities are helping in our community? Click here.

​Studying the humanities allows for the development of well-rounded and informed citizens that are essential to the flourishing and success of any democracy. Through the exploration and study of the humanities (philosophy, art, anthropology, literature, history, etc.) we are able to:​

Develop critical thinking skills that enhance our capacity for reason and provide us with the tools for effective decision making.

Understand justice and foster social equality.

Contemplate the meaning of democracy through the understanding of other cultures and human rights.

Foster empathy and compassion by addressing ethical questions.

Appreciate the variances and similarities that reside within different cultures.

Understand what it means to be a citizen.

Think creatively and ask questions that can provide insights into all sectors of life.

Add to our knowledge about our world through researching the human experience.

Gain a better understanding of the past while grasping a clearer picture of the future.

Contemplate what it means to live a good life.

All of these shape the thoughts and behaviors of citizens across the globe, which can lead to the creation of a harmonious world and a stronger democracy among the people. To learn more about the humanities, and how the Center for Public Humanities is helping in our community, click here.

Each month, The Center for Public Humanities will interview a humanities scholar or community member and ask them everything from why they believe the humanities are important to what they're currently binge-watching. We hope that our new blog series, Coffee & Questions, will inspire you, introduce you to a variety of people and fields, as well as create new conversations.

Our third guest is Karen Pierce, director of the Slippery Rock Community Library. Karen loves books, loves talking about books, loves finding new books to read, and well, loves helping people to find books and information. Ms. Pierce used to sell books for children and the position of librarian was a perfect fit. She is pursuing her degree in library science at Clarion University. Karen notes the best part of her job is working with the people who walk through the library door. Ms. Pierce is "information central" and can answer most any question posed to her and if she doesn't know, she knows where to go to find the answer. She has been working at the library since 2008.

What inspires you in your current position/role? I really like my job at the Slippery Rock Community Library. I enjoy being able to help people find information and solutions. I like being a point of information for the community. What work experiences (past or present) have been the most educational for you, and why? I was an Independent Educational Sales Consultant for Usborne Books. I learned so much from that job - marketing skills, including marketing not only the books but myself as well, working with the public, customer service and some computer skills. I loved selling kids books - really they sell themselves - they still are some of my favorite books!

What project(s) are you currently working on? We are currently working on building a new library! I am very excited. We are located right now in a room that is 283 square feet and we've outgrown that room a long time ago. We've been raising funds and are ready to build a new library at 465 North Main St that will be around 2700 square feet. Our community is ready for this!

Why do you believe that the humanities are important to everyone, and not just people in academia? I think the study of humanities is important for everyone! Humanities is the study and interpretation of language, literature and history among other things and I think it's good to be able to understand the context of a conversation. For example, a conversation in our current time is about the Constitution and how it was written by the founding fathers and how it is being interpreted today. Are we interpreting it the way our founding fathers intended? How has society changed in 200 + years? This is but one example of why humanities is an very important part of our education. Think of the other things we interpret - Religious texts, historical documents, ancient history - before the written word. We are shaped as a community by events that happened in the past and the things that happen today will shape how our community looks, acts, responds in the future.

What shows are you currently binge-watching? I rarely watch TV live. I record Timeless and The Walking Dead. I am restless though so I usually can't sit through an entire episode without pausing it and doing something else for a while.

Thank you, Karen, for sharing how you're bringing humanities into our community. We look forward to the new library!

Check back next month for more Coffee & Questions. In case you missed Seth Bruggeman's interview, click here.

Humanities empower students to succeed by providing a framework for understanding the complexities of the world, while fostering empathy for others and a desire to become active and effective citizens. Our Humanities Ladder program builds these skills through mentoring relationships with Slippery Rock University professors. Each week, professors provide engaging opportunities for students to practice reflective critical thinking in disciplines like aesthetics, philosophy, anthropology, history, and more.

Since the program started in fall 2015, these under-represented students have already exhibited increased educational goals, a deeper appreciation for the humanities, and an overall greater confidence in academics and civic participation. In fact, there was a 50% increase in students motivated to apply for college admission.

Andrew Winters (right), instructor of philosophy

We are currently looking for SRU teachers and student mentors to participate in our spring 2016 Humanities Ladder program. Scroll down to learn how you can get involved.